Oscillating electric switch.



G. E. STEVENS. .OSGILLATING ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION IILED AUG. 20, 1909.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Inventor: George E.

Witnesses:

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GEORGE E.'STEVE1\TS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. H seems.

OSCILLATING ELECTRIC 'SNI'IGH.

"Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. August 20, 1909. Serial .No. 513,767.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. STE ENS, a.citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oscillating Electric them an oscillating blade, hinged to one strip and making or breaking contact. with. the

other. A spring .is attached at one endto the blade and at the other end to a laterally sliding button, by means of which said spring can be carried past the dead center of the hinge and thus cause the blade to swing over suddenly from one contact to the other;

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal'section, of my improved swltch; and Fig. 2 is a similar section on the line 22.and perpendicular to Fig. 1.

The drawingis made on anexaggerated' scale, as the actual deviceis, about two and a half inches in length.

The base 1 is of insulating material, such as molded porcelain. Standing on said base are two contact strips 2 3 punched from sheet metal and having feet 4. which are fastened .to the base by the screws 5 passed up through holes therein. The conveying upper ends of the contact strips are provided with perforations in which are inserted flanged washers 6 of insulating material such as fiber. A rivet 7 unites all the washers and holds .the contact strips rigidly in position but insulated from each other.

In each strip is' a' tapped hole to receive a binding screw Sand lugs 9 are preferably formed on each side of each strip adjacent to said screws. A metallic shell '10 incloses the base and the strips, andis provided with an insulating lining 11. At its upper end the shell is provided with a nozzle bushing 12 through which pass the two insulated conductors 13 whose terminals are "clam ed to the respective strips2 3 by the binding screws 8. The lower end of the shell isclosed by a cap 14 whose flange 15' is fastened to said shell in any suitable manner,

as for instance by means of the spring catches 16, engaging holes or depressions in the shell. I

The foot of the contact strip 2 is bifurcated, forming two toes'17 which project over a slot 18 extending through the middle of the base 1. In each toe is a bearing for the lower end of one leg 19 of the bifurcated switch blade 20. Each leg is preferably formed with a downwardly-projecting lug 21 which is stepped in a hole in a 'toe 17. The upper end'of said blade rests against one or the other of the contact strips, which are preferably made with inwardly projecting bends. 22 to afford a good contact surface for the blade. A tension spring 23 is hooked at its upper end into a hole in the blade, and depends bet-ween the legs 19 of button 25 of insulating material such as gutta percha. Thebutton is located on the outside of the cap 14 andhas a shank 2'6 guided in a slot 27 in said cap, so that said button can slide from side to side. The outer surface of the cap is curved on an arc struck from a point on the axis of the shell at or near the upper end of the spring, and the surface of the button in contact with the cap fits this curve, so that the button moves in the arc of a circle.

The operation is as follows: The lugs 21 fit loosely in the holes in which they are stepped forming a hinge joint for the blade 1 so that it can flop easily from one conta t strip to the other. With the parts as shown in Fig. 1, the line of pull of the spr ng s to the left of this hinge, so that the blade s held firmly against the strip 2, thecircuit being open. If, however, the button be slid to the right, it puts-a further tension on the spring until, when the button has almost reached the end of its travel, the spring swings past the dead center of said hlnge and exerts its pull on the right-hand side thereof, causing the blade to snap suddenly over into contact with the strip 3 and there- In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to re resent the best embodiment thereof; but I I esire to-haveit understood that'the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I 'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electric switch, the combination with a bifurcated hinged switch blade, of a spring attached to said blade and extending between its legs past the hinge, and an in closing shell having a slotted opening, a laterally sliding button mounted in said shell opening and attached to said sprin for moving it back and forth over the dea center. 2. In an electric switch, the combination with a base having a slot, of a bifurcated switch blade having its legs stepped in bearings on said base, a spring attached to said blade and extending down between said legs and through the slot in said base, an inclosing shell having a slotted opening beneath said base and a laterally-movable button mounted 1n said shell opening and attached v to the lower end of said 5 ring.

3. .In an electric switc the combination with a base having a slot, of two contact strips standing on said base, a switch blade hinged to one of said strips, a spring attached to said blade and passing down through said slot, a curved surface disposed beneath said base, and .a button mounted on said curved surface for moving the lower end of sald spring past the dead center of said hinge.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with a base having a slot, of two contact strips standing on said base, one having two toes adjacent to said -slct, a bifurcated switch blade located between vsaid strips andhaving its legs step ed in bearm 5. In an electricswltch, the combination with an insulating base having a slot, of two lade and strips having feet secured to said base, and

provided with bends 22, insulating washers at the upper ends of said str1 s, afastening device uniting said washers, inding screws on said strips, a switch blad playing between said bends, and having 1 gs provided with lugs stepped in holes in the foot of one of said strips,.a spring attached to said blade and depending throu h said slot, a

shell and a cap inclosing al of said parts,

and a laterally-movable button outside the cap and connected with the lower end of said spring.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a base, of two contact strips extending upwardly therefrom and provided with blnding posts, a switch-blade located between said strips and adapted to connect them electrically, an actuating spring connected to said switch-blade, a shell inclosing said'switch having at one end a curved sur-.

face, provided with a slot, and a button mounted on the outside of said curved surface and connected to said spring.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of August, 1909.

t GEORGE E. STEVENS.

. Witnesses:

J 01m A. MCMANUS, J r., HENRY O. WESTENDARP. 

